Sliding window construction



p 15, 1964 L. M. HODGEN ETAL 3,148,753

SLIDING WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Lam/v M. HoocseN 4 Naso/v 8.5cmassm WILsoN, Serra, MKn! d (RA/6 .4 TTORNA w United States Patent 3,148,753 LHDNG WE'JDOW CGNSTRUCTIQN Loren M. Hodgen and Nelson S. Sehlosser, Elirhart, Ind,

assign'ors to Excel (Importation, Elkhart, Ind, 21 corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 72,959 Claims. (Cl. 189-72) This invention relates to a sliding window construction, and more particularly to a sliding window construction having an improved jarnb structure.

Sliding windows such as presently referred to are of the type used in buses and like vehicles. Such windows ordinarily have two separate sash members, one of which is slidable to an open position to permit ventilation of the interior of the vehicle. Locks are provided on the stiles of the slidable sash to cooperate with lock racks provided in the window jarnbs to permit positioning of the sash at the desired open position. Each lock rack has a plurality of spaced projections for engagement with the lock catches.

Dithculty has been experienced in providing a satisfactory jamb construction. Conventional jamb structure consists of two parallel channels, one channel being for the slidable sash and the other channel being for the fixed sash and also for the lock rack. Lock racks have been provided in such jambs in two different ways. One method used has been to pierce the web of one channel of the jamb to provide the necessary projections to act as stop members for the sash lock. This method leaves the outside of the window frame with openings therein. Even though these openings abut against the side of the window frame opening, water and other weather can seep through and into the vehicle. It is, of course, desirable to provide the sliding window construction as a water-tight and weather-tight structure. A second method of jamb construction incorporates a three-piece structure in which the lock rack is provided as a separate strip of material with the stop elements punched therein. This strip of material is mounted within a channel of the jamb. As will be appreciated, the provision of a separate lock rack strip means that an extra piece must be fabricated and mounted in the jamb. This increases the cost of the window construction considerably.

These problems are overcome in the present invention by the inclusion of the desirable features of both methods, that is, by providing a two-piece structure in which the openings in the lock rack channels are in sealing abutment a solid frame surface and thus make the jamb structure water-tight.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved sliding window construction for buses and like vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding window construction which is weatherproof in that water and other weather cannot pass thereby when the sash members are completely closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved jamb structure in which a lock rack is provided to cooperate with a slidable window sash, the openings provided in the lock rack sealingly abutting against an impervious surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window jamb structure which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a 'slidable window construction mounted a window opening and forming one embodiment of the present invention;

3,148,753 Patented Sept. 15, 1964 "ice FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the jamb construction utilized in the FIGURE 1 embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the u per portion of the jamb structure taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a section vie'w of the lower portion of the jamb structure taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged 'view of the upper left hand corner portion of the FIGURE 1 window with parts broken away for the purpose of clarity.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Refe'rrin to FIGURE 1, it may be seen that the slidable window construction it) comprises a generally rectangular window frame 12 having left and right jarnbs 14, 16 connected together at their upper and lower ends by, 'respectiveiy, a header 18 and a sash 23. The frame 12 is mounted in an opening 22 provided in vehicle body structure 24.

Mounted in the frame 12 are a pair of generally rectangular sashes 26, 28. The upper sash 26 is 'slidable and the lower sash 28 is fixed. The upper sash 26 com prises left and right stiles 3h, 32 joined together at their upper and lower ends by, respectively, a top rail 34 and a meeting or bottom rail 36. A lock 38, 40 is provided in each upper corner of the sash 26 on the interior surface or face thereof. The lower sash 28 comprises left and right stiles 42, 4e joined together at theirupp'er and lower ends by, respectivel a meeting or top rail 46 and a bot tom rail Each sash is provided with a window pane element 59, 52. g V

The iarnb structure is illustrated FEGURE 2. The upper half of the left ja'rnb id is shown, however, both jarnbs are the same, one being the mirror image of the other. As will be noted,'the 'jarnb 14 is constructed from two members: An elongated L -shaped member 54 and an elongated U-shaped meirlberd. The l...'shaped inem-' her may be fabricated from any desired metallic ii i'at'eria-l, such as for example, steel or aluminum. However, the channel member $6 should be fabricated from a relatively high strength material such as steel in order to be capable of withstanding the stresses of'thesa'shes which it shpports. The U shaped member 55 is secured to one leg or age 58 of'the -t..-shaped member by means of rivets ca. These members may be secured together by any desired method,

such as spot welding, which will result in a permanent connection.

As will be noted the sides 62, 64 er the U-sh aped member are parallel to the leg 56 of the ie-shaped member which 'is positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the plane oi the sashes. The other leg 5'58 dfthe L- shaped member is positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sashes. The upper portion of the U-shaped member terms a track 'for' the window lock 38, "it? while the lower portion is utili'z'ecl'tofixedly mount the lower sash 28. Theside 64 is spaced from the ages to term a second tIEiCkfOI the slid-able sash 26;

' A plurality of spaced apart projecting stop members 68 are provided in the web 76 or the U-shaped member. The stops 6% are punched or struck out of the material of the wall 70, leaving openings 72 in the wall. The openings 72 are sealed by the abutment of the wall against a the leg 580i the L-shapedmernber. Openings 74, 76

. Ci are provided in the upper portion of the leg 58 for the reception of fastening members to secure the jamb to the header 18.

The mounting of the slidable sash 26 in the jamb is illustrated in FIGURE 3. As there shown, the stile Si) is provided with a tongue 78 which projects into the channel formed by the leg leg 66 and the side 64. The tongue 78 is slidingly received in a glass run 30 which is retained between the leg 66 and side 64. inwardly directed flanges 82, 84 are provided on the outer end of the leg 66 and side 64 to hold the glass run 86 in place. The glass run 80 is ellective to resiliently mount the sash and to seal the tongue 78 against the passage of water thereby. The glass run is preferably fabricated from a plastic material and extends over the entire length of the jamb. A satisfactory glass run is illustrated in copending patent application Serial No. 27,071, filed May 5, 1960. As will be noted, the window pane 50 is resiliently and sealingly mounted in the stile 38 by means of sealing element 86.

The mounting of the lower sash 28 is illustrated in FIGURE 4. As previously mentioned, the sash 23 is fixedly mounted and secures the lower ends of the jambs 14, 16 in spaced relation. However, it will be appreciated that if desired, the lower sash 28 may be made slidable and .the upper sash fixedly positioned. The stile 42 of the sash 23 is provided with a tongue 88 which extends into the channel of the member 56. The tongue is resiliently and sealingly mounted in sealing element 9%. The element 9%) is in turn mounted in the channel. A self-tapping screw 92 extends through an opening 94 in the leg 53 and thence through an opening 96 in the wall 71'? into threading engagement with the sealing member $4) and thence into threading engagement with an opening 93 in the tongue 88. There are two screws 92 on each side of the sash 28 to hold the sash firmly in place. The window pane 52 is sealingly and resiliently mounted in the stile 42 by means of longitudinally extending sealing member 160.

The cooperative relationship between the jamb member 14 and the window sash lock 38 is illustrated in FIG- URE 5. The lock 33 is provided with a springurged catch 102 which may be retracted by depression of lever 104. The catch W2 is spaced from the stile 3 9 so as to project into the U-shaped member 56. Retraction of the catch 182 will permit the sash to be moved up or down in the jamb. When the sash has ben positioned at the desired location, the lever 1M is released and the catch 102 will engage the stop member 63 therebeneath. The sash 26 is illustrated in the fully closed position. The upper stop member 63 is located at a point where the horizontal tongue 106 of the sash 26 will be sealingly inserted into a mating groove in the header 18.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a sliding window construction for a vehicle comprising a generally rectangular frame having a pair 01 spaced apart side jamb members; a pair of horizontal members interconnecting the side jamb members at their upper and lower ends, a sash member mounted within the frame and slidable in the jambs, said sash member being generally rectangular and comprising a pair of stiles interconnected at their upper ends by a top rail and at their lower ends by a bottom rail, a lock provided on each stile, each of said locks having an extendable and retractable catch spaced from its respective stile, the improvement in said jam members comprising a jamb member construction including an elongated L-shaped member having a first leg positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the sash and a second leg extending therefrom in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sash, an elongated U-shaped member having a back Wall secured to the second legof the L- shaped member and first and second spaced apart side walls extending outwardly therefrom; the first leg of the L-shaped member and the second side wall of the U- shaped member being spaced apart to form a track; a flange, extending over the track, provided on the outer end of each of the first leg of the L-shaped member and the second side wall of the U-shaped member; an elongated glass run member for slidingly mounting the sash retained in the track by said flanges; a plurality of spaced apart projecting stop members struck out of the back wall of each U-shaped member; the back wall of each U- shaped member having openings therein as a result of striking the stop members therefrom; the openings in the back wall of each U-shaped member being sealed by the second leg of the respective L-shaped member; said stop members being located to engage the sash lock catches when the catches are extended and to disengage the catches when they are retracted to thereby permit selective positioning of the sash relative to the frame.

2. In a sliding window construction for a vehicle comprising a generally rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart side jamb members; a pair of horizontal members interconnecting the side jamb members at their upper and lower ends, a sash member mounted within the frame and slidable in the jambs, said sash member being generally rectangular and comprising a pair of stiles interconnected at their upper ends by a top rail and at their lower ends by a bottom rail, a lock provided on each stile, each or" said locks having an extendable and retractable catch spaced from its respective stile, the improvement in said jamb members comprising a jamb member construction including an elongated L-shaped member having a first leg positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the sash and a second leg extending therefrom in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sash, an elongated U-shaped member having a back wall secured to the second leg of the L-shaped member and first and second spaced apart side walls extending outwardly therefrom; the first leg of the L-shaped member and the second side wall of the U-shaped member being spaced apart and forming a track for slidingly mounting the sash, a plurality of spaced apart projecting stop members struck from the back Wall of each U-shaped member; said back walls having openings therein as a result of striking the stop members therefrom; said openings being sealed by the second leg of the L-shaped members; said stop members being located to engage the sash lock catches when the catches are extended and to disengage the catches when theyare retracted to thereby permit selective positioning of the sash relative to the frame.

3. In a sliding window construction comprising a generally rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart side jamb members; a pair of horizontal members interconnecting the side jamb members at their upper and lower ends, a first sash member mounted within the frame and slidable in the jambs, a second sash member fixedly mounted within the frame, said sash members being generally rectangular and each comprising a pair of stiles interconnected at their upper ends by a top rail and at their lower ends by a bottom rail, a lock provided on each stile of the first sash, each of said locks having an extendable and retractable catch spaced from its respective stile, the improvement of said jamb members comprising a jamb member construction including an elongated L-shaped member having a first leg positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the sash and a, second leg extending therefrom in a plane susbtantially perpendicular to the plane of the sash, an elongated U-shaped member having a back wall secured to the second leg of the L-shaped member and first and second spaced apart side walls extending outwardly therefrom; the first leg of the L-shaped member and the second side wall of the U-shaped member being spaced apart and forming a track for slidingly mounting the first sash, the second sash being fixedly mounted within the frame and extending into the U-shaped members, a plurality of spaced apart projecting stop members struck out of the portion of the back wall of each U-shapedmember adjacent the second sash, the back wall of each U-shaped member having sheer/53 openings therein as a result of striking the stop members therefrom, said openings being sealed by the second leg of the respective L-shaped member, said stop members being located to engage the first sash lock catches when the catches are extended and to disengage the catches when they are retracted to thereby permit selective positioning of the first sash relative to the frame.

4. The combination comprising spaced apart parallel Window jambs for a vertically slidable window sash, each jamb comprising a first elongated trackway having an L-shaped cross-section, a second elongated trackway having a U-shaped cross-section, the web of the U- shaped trackway being secured to a first flange of the L- shaped trackway with the sides of the U-shaped trackway being substantially parallel to the second flange of the L-shaped trackway, stop members struck out from the web, said web having openings therein as a result 6 of striking the stop members therefrom; said openings being sealed by the first flange of the L-shaped trackway.

5. The combination of claim 4 and further characterized in that the stop members are provided over a portion only of the length of the web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,604 Bubenheim July 20, 1915 1,799,482 Schlacks Apr. 7, 1931 1,981,192 Plym et al. Nov. 20, 1934 2,116,754 Edwards et al. May 10, 1938 2,660,274 Donathan Nov. 24, 1953 2,701,631 Stouder et al. Feb. 8, 1955 2,709,099

Higgins May 24, 1955 

4. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING SPACED APART PARALLEL WINDOW JAMBS FOR A VERTICALLY SLIDABLE WINDOW SASH, EACH JAMB COMPRISING A FIRST ELONGATED TRACKWAY HAVING AN L-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, A SECOND ELONGATED TRACKWAY HAVING A U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, THE WEB OF THE USHAPED TRACKWAY BEING SECURED TO A FIRST FLANGE OF THE LSHAPED TRACKWAY WITH THE SIDES OF THE U-SHAPED TRACKWAY BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE SECOND FLANGE OF THE L-SHAPED TRACKWAY, STOP MEMBERS STRUCK OUT FROM THE WEB, SAID WEB HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN AS A RESULT OF STRIKING THE STOP MEMBERS THEREFROM; SAID OPENINGS BEING SEALED BY THE FIRST FLANGE OF THE L-SHAPED TRACKWAY. 